Obesity, ancestry, and breast cancer in African American women
Official title: Role of obesity as a causative factor of breast cancer in women of African American ethnicity
Funded at Tuskegee University · NIH-11367913 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant asks how obesity and African ancestry affect breast cancer biology and outcomes in rural Alabama women.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Tuskegee University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Tuskegee Institute, United States) |
| Project start | July 7, 1997 |
| Project end | March 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $354,963 |
| NIH project number | 5U54MD007585-35 |
| Project ID | NIH-11367913 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
African American women with breast cancer, particularly those in rural Alabama and with obesity-related inflammatory profiles.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without obesity, non-African American ancestry, or those not connected to the Tuskegee Total Cancer Care data may see limited direct benefit.
What this research studies
The study follows the Tuskegee Total Cancer Care approach to look at how obesity-related inflammation and genetic ancestry influence tumor biology and the immune environment in African American women with breast cancer. Researchers will use longitudinal data and biospecimens to connect social and environmental factors with genomic and immune changes in tumors. The work aims to unite social determinants of health with biological signals to understand disparities and identify potential targets for improving care. This is rooted in a real-world patient population and uses existing clinical data to explore meaningful questions about race, obesity, and cancer biology.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could lead to more personalized prevention and treatment strategies for African American women with breast cancer.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work supports links between obesity, inflammation, and tumor biology, but this study explicitly combines ancestry with tumor microenvironment in a specific population.
Where this research is happening
-
Tuskegee University
Tuskegee Institute, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bedi, Deepa — Tuskegee University
- Study coordinator: Bedi, Deepa
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.